Garmin eMap Hiking GPS

by Garmin

Product Details

Product Manual [2.27mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 2.4 x 8 x 5.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00003OPEU
• Item model number: GPS12MAP
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,762 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Save yourself the humiliation of having to stop and ask directions on your next lengthy road trip: invest in Garmin's eMap. The eMap GPS receiver will give you fairly accurate mapping information, directions, and even help you manage and track your journeys.

For those unfamiliar with the term, GPS (global positioning system) involves 24 satellites that circle the planet. At any given time, the eMap makes contact with at least three of them to determine everything from speed to location. So, as long as you're motoring around the great outdoors, you'll be in the know.

It features a detailed 120 x 160 pixel display, backlighting for nighttime navigating, and easily navigable controls. With the eMap's simple cursor control, you should be up and running with almost no effort. Considering this unit only weighs 6.7 ounces, it could easily be the best roadside companion on long drives--or local trips if you're that directionally challenged.

If you're going to do some serious pioneering, you're also in for a good deal of choices. You can catalog 500 waypoints, 2,000 log points, and 10 saved tracks. But there is a downside to all this power in the palm of your hand: Garmin supplies you with only basic mappings of major roadways and intersections. If you're looking for city-street maps or more detailed coverage, get the checkbooks ready. Garmin sells optional MapSource CD-ROMs that will provide enormous amounts of map data, showing streets, alleys, and even restaurants. A series of different Map CD-ROMs are available and cost, on average, about $170. When all is said and done, with hidden costs, you can expect to spend upwards of $350 to get everything you'd need out of the eMap. --Dave Thomas

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Lightweight
• Large, crisp display
• Room for extra memory cartridges
• Map data fed by satellite good for North America and parts of Europe

Cons:

• Detailed maps are expensive
• Batteries last only about 10 to 12 hours

Amazon.com Product Description

The size of a small, flat calculator, the eMap contains a 12-parallel-channel global positioning system receiver and weighs a mere six ounces. Even with its compact style, the eMap boasts an extra-large display for showing more map data and the same power you've come to expect from Garmin hand-helds--even while operating for up to 14 hours on two AA batteries.

The eMap features an internal base map containing information on North and South America including state and country boundaries, lakes, rivers, streams, airports, cities, towns, coastlines, and U.S., state, and interstate highways. In addition, the eMap provides exit information for the federal interstate highway system. With the eMap, you will know when you are near services such as food, lodging, and service stations.

The eMap is compatible with Garmin's line of downloadable MapSource CD-ROMs including U.S. Roads and Recreation, WorldMap, U.S. Topo, and MetroGuide U.S.A. When paired with the MetroGuide U.S.A. CD-ROM, the eMap has the ability to look up address and telephone number information for nearby services and points of interest. The eMAP will store 8 or 16 MB of downloaded CD-ROM information at a time depending on the size of the cartridge you use in the unit.

Designed with all types of users in mind, this unit will take you from the car to the hiking trail and beach without missing a beat.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great product - Beware of hidden costs though, October 24, 2000

By 

Brian Brackeen "_code_poet_" (Denton, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Garmin eMap Hiking GPS (Electronics)

Don't get me wrong, I love this GPS. For me a city boy, this thing is great. However, that being said, there are LOTS of extras you will need, to make this thing work the way you'd like. First off, the base map that comes with it is good only for medium to long trips. So right off the bat if you plan to use it in the metropolitan area and want any kind of detail you need to buy $160 bucks worth of maps, and $100 of extra RAM to hold the maps you download to the unit. Now anyone in their right mind would assume after having paid $180 for the GPS and $160 for the maps and $100 for the extra RAM that you might get a PC to GPS cable right? Wrong. You get to pay another $30 to $60 for the data cable. Want a cigarette adapter? Take out your already shrinking wallet and flop down another $30 to $60. After having shelled out over half a thousand bucks, I still dont have a case. Eh, whats another $20 for a nice leather case. After saying all that I am happy with the product, it is very nice and suits my needs to a tee. I just wish I knew I would have to spend over $560 to get the functionality I thought I was getting for $180.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great piece of equipment, February 22, 2000

By 

Irving Herskowitz (Somers, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Garmin eMap Hiking GPS (Electronics)

I am very happy with my unit. I took it on a 6000 mile trip and was delighted with its performance. A couple of negative comments. I agree that the manual is user unfriendly. I had to figure out most of the features myself, and some did not become evident until I was on the road. Secondly, the many features seem to be a closely guarded secret. I defy anyone to tell me the difference between the $189 base model and the delux $299 model. Amazon says the delux model includes a computer cord and an 8 meg memory chip. It seems a little overpriced. Have not been able to get any info on availability or prices for car plug adapters, 16 meg cards, down loadable maps, etc. Finally, don't take this unit along if you are driving alone! It is so fantastic, its hard to keep your eye on the road. I found the map is constantly being updated as you cruise down the interstate. I recommend it highly for people who take long trips on the interstate system. It has only scant info on local roads.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic travel partner, March 18, 2000

By 

G.W.W. (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Garmin eMap Hiking GPS (Electronics)

I switched to this from the GPS-III+ which is a more advanced unit that this. However, this unit accepts cartridges that can be upgraded from CD. You can download 2 different levels of detail into the cartridges depending on which CD you get from Garmin (Metroguide, high; Roads & Recreation, low - computer and cable required). That is why some people say local road coverage is week, that is not really true. It is true overseas, because the detailed CD's are not available. Garmin is releasing new cd's all the time (Garmin.com). I have the one for UK and I have used this unit internationaly having pre-programmed a couple of cartridges with great sucess. This is a good unit for the money, but the accessories do add up (CD's, cables, covers, etc.) Get used to using a GPS before you bother with the add-on stuff.